BECOMING RIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 152, 30 June 1939, Page 8

BECOMING RIFE.

SHIP DESERTIONS.

'MUST STOP." SAVS S.M

"Had it not hem that the rtefemUn' '« onlv IS years of age mv instruction "onld have been to ni-e«>e for a s"l>--tant-iiT penalty." said Mr. A Moodv •"rpniin? for the Commonwealth mid n,.,,;,,;,,„ shipping Conipnnv to-dnv. *»hen Kenneth ry>rwlr pleaded ""iltv to 'p«ertii»2 the Port Alma on May 1(5. "Ship desertion is ce f tiii2 very rife •n<! ih-ntirn" "om'">"'p.* ai-p '•••- \-prv lircd of it." said Mr Moody. 'Appar •ntly (his \ounsr man \vw induced by -hi outsider to leave the ship. Tlie Port Alma lias now none and T fei i ionih to a>k the Court to send Mie yoiin? fellow to <;iiol. The Trouble «een>« to lip tint these men desert hoping tt get sood iobs ashore, but they put the <-h:ppin~ oinpanioi to a lot of trouble." The rlefendant said he had been in ilticed by a man to teiive the ship, lb «'a* led tcr believe that be could set a job at £7 a week. However, the job did not eventuate »nd he wa* now anxious to jret back koiue. I: given th~ chance Ire co«ld pet ;i *liip *aiii:i» to-dsiv Mr. J. Moiling, SJU„ *aid desertions from ships were becoming too prevalent and would have to stop. Defendant was admitted to probation for six months. it being understood be would reave New Zealand at the earliest opportunity.